/images/2018/01/23/navina-side-hustle-mid_MPfEDfV.jpg)
/images/2019/12/06/smart_strategies_to_save_money_on_car_insurance.jpg)
/authors/ben_walker_updated.png)
/authors/lauren-graves-headshot.jpg)
/images/2024/12/18/capital_one_savor_student_card_art.png)
Card basics
| Card type | Student |
| Credit card issuer | Capital One |
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Estimated earnings in years one and two1 <p class="">These values are based on the <a href="https://financebuzz.com/financebuzz-credit-card-valuation">FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model</a>, which takes a look at rewards earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee. We used a valuation of 1 cent/point unless otherwise stated above. These are estimated values - your actual earnings will depend on how much you spend and in what categories.<br></p> | Year one value: $445
Year two value: $345 |
| Welcome offer | Earn $100 when you spend $300 in the first three months |
| Rewards rate | 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal; unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 3% on dining, entertainment, streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding superstores such as Walmart® and Target®); and 1% on all other purchases |
| Recommended credit score | Fair, No Credit |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Purchase APR | 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
Who can apply?
First things first, the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees) card is only for students 18 or older. All credit cards require you to be at least 18 to qualify, but this card is exclusively for students.
Capital One considers a student to be anyone enrolled or about to enroll within three months of applying at an accredited university, college, or another type of higher education institution. You have to meet the student requirements to qualify for this card, but you won't necessarily lose access to using the card after graduating or when you're no longer a student.
Who should get the Capital One Savor Student Card?
There aren't a lot of people we wouldn't recommend this card for, but it's likely to be a great fit for you if:
- You're a student who spends a lot on groceries and food.
- You're a student looking for your first credit card.
- You're an international student looking to avoid foreign transaction fees.
This card's earning potential is high and student-focused, with elevated earning rates on common spending categories that don't change or require activation. For ease of use and everyday function, it's a great option.
Plus, the $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees are helpful for keeping costs to a minimum, which we all know college students need.
You typically need fair credit to qualify, but it is possible to get approved with limited to no credit. What I would do is check to see if I was pre-approved before applying, so I didn't have to have a hard credit check, which can ding your credit score by a few points, that isn't absolutely necessary.
Who shouldn't apply for this card?
Credit card beginners should take note of this card's high regular APR. This isn't a card you want to owe money on, given its high interest rate, so it's especially important to use responsibly. You should always aim to pay off your statement balance in full each statement period, treating this more like a debit card — spending only funds you already have — than a traditional credit card.
If you're nervous about this, consider a secured credit card instead. These aren't limited to students and are designed to minimize your debt. Generally, you make a security deposit when opening and can spend up to this amount on your card. Then, once you repay your balance, you can access your full credit limit again.
Of course, you also shouldn't get this card if you aren't a student and can't qualify. For beginner-friendly credit cards you can get approved for as a non-student, check out these options:
- Credit Cards for a 600 Credit Score
- First Credit Cards for People With No Credit History
- Credit Cards That Don't Require a Credit Check
Savor Student Card benefits
This card's rewards rate — and lack of an annual fee — speak for themselves. But I want to take a moment to highlight some of the Savor Rewards for Students card's benefits that are less front and center.
- Automatic credit line reviews: Capital One will automatically consider you for a credit line increase after six months.
- Credit and other alerts: Receive alerts about changes to your TransUnion or Experian credit reports and free credit monitoring with CreditWise. Capital One is also excellent about alerting you to suspicious account activity (speaking from experience here).
- Extended warranty protection: Eligible purchases have their warranty extended.2 <p class="">For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.<br></p> While purchase protection perks aren't uncommon with credit cards, I like to see them in beginner cards.
- 24/7 travel assistance: Receive complimentary concierge service for dining, entertainment, and travel, plus travel assistance around the clock.2 <p class="">For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.<br></p> Maybe you wouldn't use this benefit a lot, but you'll feel better knowing it's there.
- Capital One Entertainment: Cardholders receive special access to sporting, music, and dining events through the Capital One Entertainment portal. You can even use your rewards to book tickets.
Things you might not like about theDrawbacks to the Savor Rewards for Students Card
Many credit cards provide a 0% introductory APR offer for the first year or more after account opening, often for purchases or balance transfers. There's no such offer with this card.
But frankly, I see this as more of an advantage than a disadvantage. If you're a student building credit for the first time, you probably don't need any extra temptation to run up a balance you can't repay. I suggest scheduling automatic payments for at least the minimum required payment each month, but ideally the full statement balance to avoid interest.
Earning and redeeming rewards
The best way to earn cash back with the Savor Rewards for Students Card is by using it in categories where it earns bonus rewards.
For example, the earning rate for dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores such as Walmart® and Target®) is 3%, but for all other purchases it's only 1%.
| Categories | Rewards rate |
| Entertainment purchases when booked through the Capital One Entertainment portal | 8% |
| Hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | 5% |
| Dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores such as Walmart® and Target®) | 3% |
| All other purchases | 1% |
What counts for the cash back categories?
Here's a breakdown of what counts as eligible purchases for the bonus categories on the Savor Rewards for Students Card:
- Dining: Eligible purchases at restaurants, cafes, bars, fast-food restaurants, bakeries, and lounges.
- Entertainment: Eligible purchases at movie theaters, amusement parks, tourist attractions, aquariums and zoos, record stores, bowling alleys, and more. Golf courses and collegiate sporting events don't count.
- Streaming: Eligible streaming services include Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more. Prime Video, AT&T TV, and Verizon Fios On Demand are excluded.
- Grocery store: Eligible purchases at supermarkets, specialty markets, meat lockers, and dairy product stores. Superstores, like Walmart and Target, are excluded.
Ways to redeem your cash back
The Savor Rewards for Students Card offers multiple ways to redeem your cash back, including:
- Statement credits
- Mailed check
- Cover previous purchases
- Gift cards
- Cover PayPal purchases
- Shop with Points at Amazon.com
- Capital One Entertainment
Capital One doesn't publicly release its reward redemption rates, but most cashback credit cards offer the best rates when you redeem your rewards for actual cash back, which, in this case, would be for statement credits or a mailed check. I recommend sticking with statement credits and paying yourself back for purchases.
You can use your rewards for gift cards or shopping with PayPal or Amazon, but you may get a little less value.
Cards you might like instead
The Savor Rewards for Students Credit Card might not be the best credit card for everyone. For other options, consider the Chase Freedom Rise® and Discover it® Student Cash Back.
Chase Freedom Rise®
The Chase Freedom Rise® has a $0 annual fee and offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases. While it's marketed as a cashback card, it actually earns Chase Ultimate Rewards program points, which are among the most valuable credit card rewards available. With this card, you can earn $25 statement credit for enrolling in automatic payments within the first three months of account opening, but that's it in the way of welcome offers.
Consider the Chase Freedom Rise over the Capital One Savor Student card only if you'd rather earn a flat rewards rate than elevated rates on certain categories.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
The Discover it® Student Cash Back has a $0 annual fee and offers earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.. It's similar to the Savor Rewards for Students card in that you can earn elevated cash back rates on certain categories, but different because those categories change every quarter and you have to activate them.
Choose the Discover it® Student Cash Back over the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees) if you want to earn as much cash back as possible but your spending fluctuates a lot. Just make sure you pay attention to those quarterly categories.
/images/2024/12/13/discover_it_student_cash_back_card_art_-_12-13-24.png)
Current Offer
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
FAQs
Is the Savor Rewards for Students Card a good card?
The Savor Rewards for Students Card can be one of the best cashback credit cards for students who want to build their credit while earning valuable rewards. It has a $0 annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and provides bonus cash back in common spending categories for students — including dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores such as Walmart® and Target®).
What credit score do you need for the Savor Rewards for Students Card?
You'll likely need a fair credit score to qualify for the Savor Rewards for Students Card. According to the FICO scoring model, a fair credit score starts at 580.
Do note that numerical credit scores are provided as guidelines only and are not a guarantee of approval.
How do you redeem cash back with the Savor Rewards for Students Card?
Cash back can be redeemed as a statement credit, as a mailed check, to cover previous purchases, as a gift card, or to make purchases on Amazon. In this case, redeeming your cash back for a statement credit or mailed check is likely to offer you the most value.
What are some alternatives to the Savor Rewards for Students Card?
If the Savor Rewards for Students Card doesn't seem like the right fit for you, consider these other options for students, some of which offer sign-up bonuses and other valuable benefits:
Current Offer
Early Spend Bonus: Earn $100 when you spend $300 in the first three months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal; unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 3% on dining, entertainment, streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding superstores such as Walmart® and Target®); and 1% on all other purchases
/images/2025/08/05/citi_strata_card_review.png)
/images/2025/08/05/citi_strata_elite_card.png)
/images/2025/07/30/person_doing_planks_at_the_gym.png)
/images/2025/07/11/sapphire_reserve_for_business_thumbnail.jpg)
/images/2025/06/27/two_travelers_laughing.png)
/images/2020/01/15/eastern_europe_landscape_1199x628.jpg)